Improvement in embossed gilt moldings



UNITED STATES JOHN GSCHWIND, OF UNION, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN EMBOSSED GlLT .MOLDINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,449, dated January 1 3, 1874; application filed October 17, 1873.

To atl whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, J onN GscHwIND, of the town of Union, Hudson county, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Embossed Gilt Molding, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a face view of my improved embossed gilt molding; Fig. 2, a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of the same.

Similar letters indicate similar parts in both figures.

The gilt moldings of picture-frames and similar apparatus are, as is well-known, mostly prepared by first covering the wooden core or body of the molding with plaster-of-paris, shaping said plaster similar to thewood upon which it is placed, and in accordance with the style or configuration, and then covering its surface with silver-foil, which, when varnished, will appear of a golden hue. In some rare instances gold-foil is used instead of the silver, and frequently, also, composition of a cheaper nature than silveris employed in its stead. Such moldin have always been prepared with smooth surfaces, it being found impracticable to engrave figures or designs into the plaster-ofparis, which is a substance apt to crumble away when cut orpressed, while, if an ornamental design were cut into the wood, the plaster covering could not be made to represent the same ornamentation. I have successfully attempted to ornament such plaster-covered molding by applyin g the configuration not upon the plaster itself directly, but upon the surface of the silver-foil after the same has been applied to the plaster. In this manner the silverfoil will constitute a covering to the plaster, preventing it from crumbling away during the process of embossing or pressing, and retaining the shape which is imparted to it by such process, the plaster yielding to pressure sufficiently to assume the form which it is desired to impart to it.

In the accompanying drawing, the letter A represents a wooden molding of suitable size and shape, it being shown to be smooth on Aits surface, and only provided with a concave corner, a', in the form of a decoration. The surface of this molding iscovered with a coating, I), of plaster-of-paris, which coating is usually of a thickness not exceeding the one-twentieth of an inch. Upon the surface of the plaster a covering of silver-foil, d, is placed, such foil being applied to the plaster by being rubbed l upon the same with smooth tools in the usual manner. After the wood has been covered y with the plaster and the silver-foil the molding is ornalnented or embossed by moving rollers or other tools, having edges prepared with the desired ornamentation over the foil, and in tracing thereby the leaves, scrolls, and other things, to be represented in bas-relief, into said foil, the foil protecting the plaster, so that it l will not crumble away during the process of embossing. After the molding has thus been treated the foil is covered with a proper varnish, which imparts to it a yellow color, and is then, preferably, or may be, once more subjected to the same rollers or tools by which it was embossed7 proper gages being used to insure the rollers or tools to apply their surfaces at the identical places at which they were ap-` plied at the first operation. By this second application of the tools or rollers ay perfect and beautiful polish is imparted to the embossed molding. u

Instead of the plaster-of-paris, equivalent yielding substance may be used.

I claim as my inventioni The process herein described of embossing gilt moldings after the foil has beenapplied to the plaster-of-paris, in the manner specilied.

` JOHN GSOHWIND Witnesses:

F. V. BRrEsEN, MICHAEL RYAN. 

